Siege of Calais (1436)

The Siege of Calais (9-29 July 1436) was a failed siege of English-held Calais by Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy. The English successfully defended the city from the Burgundians, and the city remained under English control until 1558.

After England walked out of peace talks with France in 1435, the Duchy of Burgundy switched its allegiance to France. This led to the London populace being encouraged to plunder the possessions of Flemish, Dutch, and Picard merchants in the city, and a force of 2,000 English troops defeating a 1,500-strong Burgundian army under Jean II de Croy near Boulogne. Duke Philip the Good responded by declaring war on England.

Philip the Good conquered Oye Castle and hanged part of the garrison, and he proceeded to take Sangatte and Balinghem. In June 1436, he began to besiege Calais, England's chief stronghold in northern France. The Duke had 30,000 troops at Calais, and he also sent De Croy to secure Guines. The well-provisioned Calais garrison of 2,000 troops, commanded by Edmund Beaufort, was able to hold the city against Flemish assaults. The Burgundians failed to block the harbor by sinking five stone-laden ships in the harbor, leading to their army disintegrating. Soon, Humphrey of Lancaster arrived with a relief army of 10,000 troops, and the Duke of Burgundy was forced to lift the sieges of Calais and Guines and withdraw. In 1439, the Duke was forced to make peace with the English.